Refrigerator cabinet construction



April 1965 A, R. COSTANTINI ETAL 3,177,988

REFRI GERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1 I Inunn IN V EN TOR.

ANTKoNv m nflseubb y HNTHONY \QQCOSTH TIM Apr 1965 A. R. COSTANTINI ETAL 3,177,938

REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1960 m m m m ANTHONY W HHGEL S BY PmTHoHY R.C.o5TA'NT\PH XMMM April 1965 A. R. COSTANTINI ETAL 3,177,988

REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Q .14. INVENTOR.

ANTHONY m HNGELUS BY HNTHOHY R.COSTHNTIN\ ,4 TTOBA EX April 1965 A. R. COSTANTINI ETAL 3,177,938

REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 20, 1960 INVENTOR. ANTHONY m HNGELUS BY AHTHONY -COTHNTINI United States Patent 'REFREGERATGR CABINET Q'JONSTRUUTKUN Anthony Raymond Uostautini, Philadelphia, and Anthony Di Angelus, Havertown, Pa, assignors to Victory Metal Manufacturing Company, doing business as Victory Metal Manufacturing Corporation, Plymouth Meeting,

Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 20, 196i), Ser. No. 23,412 6 ,Claims. (Cl. res-3s This invention relates generally to refrigerators, and more particularly relates to the provision of assemblies mountable within the refrigerator interior for supporting various types of trays, pans, shelves and drawers. The novel assembly according to the invention includes verticaily extending apertured pilasters secured to the interior Walls of the refrigerator and which are engageable by rail supporting clips vertically positionable as desired with regard to the pilasters. The structure of the clips and the rails supported thereby is such that one type of clip may be employed to support a wide variety of different rail types, the latter being individually designed for the accommodation of various types of pans, trays and shelves. Additionally, this invention contemplates the provision of adapter units for the vertically running pilasters by means of which the spacing between facing pilasters may be altered so that trays or shelves of different widths may be accommodated.

In the past, tray supporting slides or rails have been known which include a slide section having formed at opposite ends, and integrally therewith, one type or another of a clip adapted for securement to the inside liners of refrigeration equipment. Such slides or rails require machine or die forming and require the use of different dies to produce left-hand or right-hand slide units in those cases where the anchoring clip structures at opposite ends are not the same. Moreover, since slides of diifereut lengths are utilized in different units, or indeed -even within different compartments of the same refrigerator units, quite a number of different length slides must be made by the maker of the refrigeration equipment and must be inventoried by him to provide a stock of spare slides for immediate shipment to purchasers who require the same as replacements for broken or otherwise damaged or unsuitable slides. This of course entails the tying up of capital in inventory, providing warehousing for such slide units, and also becomes a source of annoyance to the purchaser since his refrigeration equipment is rendered at least partially unusable until he receives shipment of the replacement parts from the manufacturer.

Additionally, certain types of known tray supports are characterized by the fact that their manner of securement Within the refrigerator equipment is not positive, and permits such supports to he accidentally detached which causes great annoyance and inconvenience to the user. Finally, presently known types of refrigerator tray supports are functionally inflexible in that they allow for the support of trays of only a single standardized width within a given compartment. The present invention contemplates the elimination of all of the foregoing disadvantages of presently known refrigerated tray supporting structures. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel refrigerated tray supporting rail structure which includes a pair of identical pilaster engaging clips secured to a tray supporting slide, at opposite ends thereof, and which if the need arises may be repaired or replaced on the spot with very simple tools usually readily available, thereby maintaining the refrigeration unit in operation without the loss of capacity while waiting for a replacement part from the manufacturer.

ice

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel refrigerated tray supporting rail assembly which markedly reduces the parts inventory required to be kept on hand by the manufacturer or the user.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel refrigerated tray' supporting rail assembly which does away with previously known types of rails having end clips integrally formed therewith.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel adapter unit which may be used in conjunction with the rail supporting pilaster to decrease the width between spaced apart parallel disposed tray supporting rails so that trays of lesser width maybe readily accommodated within the refrigerator, the novel adapters being quickly and easily removably attachable to the pilaster in conjunction with which it is used.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the ap pended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with the doors open to show the pilasters and tray supvporting rails carried thereby;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the re frigerator of EEGURE l and as would be seen when viewed along the lines 2-2 thereof with the refrigerator door closed:

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view, partially fragmented, of they vertically extending pilaster structures secured to the inside liners of the refrigerator seen in FiGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective top end view of an in the exploded view of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through a pilaster structure secured within a refrigerator and as would be seen when viewed along the lines '5--5 of FIGURE 2;

PEGURE 6 is a rear perspective view of a pilaster attachable clip two of which are assembled with and at opposite ends of a desired length of supporting rail to form a complete rail assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a front perspective view of the clip seen in rear perspective in FIGURE 6, and shows one end of an associated rail in exploded relationship "to the clip;

FIGURE 8 is a front perspective view illustrating a pair of fragmented vertically extending pilasters to which are each secured a rail end clip which in turn carry between them a typical fragmented rail according to the invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as would be seen when viewed along the lines 99 of FIGURE 8; I

FEGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view such as would be seen when viewed along the lines 1d-lil of FIGURE FIGURE 11 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the pilasters of FlGURE 8 and as would be seen when viewed along the lines llli of that figure;

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7 but showing an end clip having a wider, horizontal rail supporting platform to accommodate a wider rail, such as is also seen in the showing of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional view through a clip supported rail ofthe type seen in FIGURE 12 and showing a pan in phantom being supported thereon;

FIGURE 14 is a front elevation of a roller type supporting rail structure with part of the slidable member broken away to reveal underlying structural details;

FIGURE 15 is a front perspective view of. a roller type rail end attached to a supporting clip and with the movable rail member shown in exploded relationship thereto;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view through the roller type ,mented, of an adapter trail as would be seen when viewed along the lines 16-16 which illustrates the method of attaching the adapter to a pilaster.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters. V

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, there will be seen a refrigerator 30 having a pair of side by side compartments 31 and 32 each having its own door 33 and 34 respectively associated therewith. Disposed within the compartments 31 and 32 and secured to the refrigerator 'compartment liners 39 are vertically extending pilasters 35 to which are secured railssor slides 36 and 36' by means of the clips 37 and 37, the rails 36 and 36 being adapted to support slidably thereon trays such as that 'designated 38;

- rReferring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be seen fthereinthat the pilasters 35 are each composed of two structural members, a right angled corner shaped member 40 and a U shaped channel member 43 adapted for disposition within the confines of the C shaped member 40. The C shaped member '40 has a main wall 42 through whichrare centrally punched a series of equally vertically spaced rectangular apertures 41, and further includesa pair of opposed 6 member arms having turned in end portions 48 spaced apart in coplanar relationship and extending parallel to the main wall 42. The U shaped channel member 43 has a base wall 46 and a pair of upturned flanges 49," the base wall 46 being centrally circularly apertured at vertically spaced intervals along the length thereof, as at 44.

The spacing between the circular apertures 44 and the channel member base wall 46 is chosen to be either the same as or an integral multiple of the spacing between the rectangular apertures 41 in the C shaped member 40, so that when the channel member 43 is disposed within the C shaped member 40 as seen in. FIGURES 4 and 5, each of the circular apertures 44 will be horizontally registrable with one of the rectangular apertures 41 in the C shaped member 40. This arrangement permits a screw such as 47 illustrated in FIGURE to be projected through one of the rectangular apertures 41 so that the shank of the screw 47 may pass simultaneously through the registering circular aperture 44 in the channel member 43 and be screwed into the compartment liner 39 to being wholly contained within the '0 members 40,'and

having a main body vertical part 50 and a main body horizontal leg 51 extending substantially orthogonally to one another. Turned forward into overlying parallel relationship with the horizontal leg 51 and extending from the top of the vertical part 50 are a pair of ears 52 having secure the pilaster 35 in position. As best seen in FIG- member 43 clamps the arms 48 of the C member 40 against the liner 39 to firmly secure the pilaster in place.

As best'seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 respectively, the

lower end of the 0 member 40 has the arms 48 end portions turned inwardly to provide a stop for the lower end of the channel member 43, and, when the channel member 43 has been disposed within the 0 member 40, the upper ends of the 0 member arms 43 are crimped as at 45' to provide an upper stop for the channel member 43. The 0 member 40 and channel member 43 are cut to the'de'sired size from standard lengths of stock and are so cut relative to one another that when interfittingly engaged as seen for example in FIGURE 4, the apertures 41 and 44 are in horizontal registration as previously de scribed. In the resulting pilaster assembly, it will be thus understood that the channel members 43 are not visible,

turned under ear flanges53 and defining therebetween a slot or opening, which as will be seen is sufficiently open to permit the upper flange 64 of the rail 36 to be forced thereinto. Turned up and back from the horizontal leg 7 51 of the clip 37 is a flange 61 which overlies the leg 51 in spaced relation thereto and allows suflicient clearance for the end of the lower flange 65 of the rail 36 to be forced thereinto at the same time as the upper flange 64 is engaging with the ears 52. a

Projecting upward from the top of the clip vertical part 50 is a vertical tab 54 rearwardly offset as at 55. Turned back out of the main body vertical part 50 is .a horizontally extending support tab 56 positioned immediately below the vertical tab 54. Similarly turned out of the main body vertical part 50 and extending substantially horizontally rearwardly thereof is 'a' latching'ta'b 57 having a downwardly projecting snap latch 58 and upward sloped camming lip 59. The sides of the latching tab 57 are extended forward into the'horizontal leg 51 of the clip 37 by means of the slots 66 which allow a resilient spring action of the latching tab 57 to take place 'ina vertical plane. Completing the structure of the clip 37 are a pair of L shaped reinforcing sides 62 disposed in parallel, planes substantially perpendicular to the planes of the mainrbody vertical and horizontal parts 50 and 51, and being joined to these parts along their side edges. The width of the clip 37 between the reinforcing sides 62 is at least equal to the overall width of the pilaster 0' member 46 so that the clip maybe disposed upon the pilaster with the reinforcing sides 62 immediately overlying the side walls of the pilaster, as best seen in the showings of FIGURES 8 and 11.

As seen in the showings of FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 10, the clip main body horizontal leg 51 is of somewhat greater front-torear extent than are the cars 52. This is not a necessary condition as will be clear from an examination of FIGURE 12 which illustrates a clip 37' identical to the clip 37 in all regards except one, that one difference residing in the fact that the clip main body horizontal leg 51' of the clip 37' is of substantially increased frontto back length as compared to the corresponding horizontal leg 51 in the clip 37. This difference is, of course, to accommodate the rail 36 which has a' much wider flange 65' than the corresponding flange 65 of the rail 36. In this comparison of FIGURES 7 and 12, it will also be observed that the forward turned ears 52 and 52' of the clips 37 and 37' respectively are identical 1n front-to-rear extent This also is not a required condition and is so shown only for purposes of illustration, a a e Continuing the comparison of FIGURES 7 and 12, it is observed that, the'rails 36 and 36' respectively are. substantially channel'shaped and have base'walls63 and 63',

, forward turned s'horttop flanges 64 and '64 and forward turned lower flanges 65 and 65' which are of greater .front-to-back extent than the corresponding upper flange of the same rail. Each of the upper flanges64 and 64' has a rearwardly turned reinforcing portion 66. and 66' flattened down against the upper surface of the flange itself, and each of the lower flanges '65 and 65 has a similar turned under and flattened portion 67 and 67'. The turned-back portions 66 and 67 and their primed counter parts are cut away at the end for a distance equal 3,1 v to the width of the clips 37 and 37' so that the flanged portions 64 and 68 and their primed counter parts may be slipped into the clip recesses designed to receive them as previously described. Preferably, in the case of the wider rail 36 the upper reinforcing portion 66 is extended rearwardly across the full width of the flange 64- and thence downwardly in overlying relation to the base wall 63 and its rib 7t) to impart to the rail increased rigidity.

It will be observed that the lower flange end recesses 68 and 68' are created by not only cutting away the flange turnback '67 but also by depressing the flange portion in the cut-away region, as at 69. By so-doing, when the end of the rail 36 is fully engaged with the clip 37, the turned back leg flange 61 of the clip 37 is enabled to be disposed in a common plane with the flange 65, as clearly illustrated in the showing of FIGURE 9. In this way, the turned back leg flange 61 has no tendency to catch the bottom rear end of a pan or tray as the latter is slid into the refrigerator, and the pan may be easily slipped completely to the rear of the compartment Without becoming hung-up by the turned back flange 61. Finally, the rails 36 and 36' are preferably formed with base wall reinforcing ribs 70 and 70 respectively, and the rail 36, because of the additional depth of its lower flange 65',

also includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 70f. However, in the case of the narrower rail 36, it may be desirable in certain instances to eliminate the reinforcing rib 70, as for example when such rail 36 is employedin an assembly as shown in FIGURES 14, and 16 described more specifically hereinafter.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a rail 36 with a pair of clips 37 inter'fitted therewith, one at each end, and the interfitted rail end and clips interlocked in operative position with a pair of spaced pilasters 35. Understanding now the manner in which the clips and rails are interfitted with one another, reference should be made to FIGURES 10 and 11 for an understanding of the manner of interlatching the clips 37 with the pilasters 35. FIGURE 18, although specifically dealing with the pilaster adapter aspect of this invention, is sufiiciently similar to the showing of FIG- URE 10 insofar as the interlocking aspects of the clips and pilasters are concerned that reference may also be made to the upper portion of this figure since it is shown in somewhat larger detail than the showing of FIG- URE 10.

The clips are interlocked with the pilasters 35 by tilting the rail 36 into an inclined position so that the tops of the clips are closer to the pilasters than are the clip bottoms. In this position, the vertical tab 54 on each clip is inserted into one of the rectangular apertures 41 on the pilasters, pushed upward until the top of the tab otfset 55 engages the top of the aperture 41, and the clips are then swung rearwardly so that the cumming lip 5% of the latching tab 57 enters the next lower pilaster aperture 41. The continued exertion of inward directed force causes the snap latch 58 of the latching tab 57 to be cammed upward and ride in over the bottom of the lower pilaster aperture 41, snapping downward and securely latching the clip 37 in place.

Outward rotation of the top of each clip is prevented by the vertical tab 54 which is seen to be now disposed behind the unapertured portion of the pilaster main wall 42. Downward displacement of the clip 37 is prevented by the horizontal support tab 56 which is seen to be seated upon the lower edge of the upper pilaster aperture 41. The support tab 56 is thus seen to remove the vertical weight load which would otherwise be imposed'upon the latching tab 57. Dimensionally, it is seen that the vertical extent of the pilaster apertures 41 corresponds to the distance between the undersurface of the horizontal support tab 56 and the upper surface of the offset portion 55 of the vertical tab 54. This prevents any tendency toward vertical jiggling of the rail 56 once it has been installed. Similarly, it is observed that the distance between the upper edge of one pilaster aperture 41 and the lower edge vases of the vertical tab 54 and the bottom of the downward projecting-snap-latch 58, this dimensioning being effective to prevent any tendency toward disengagement of the clip 37 due to outward swinging of the lower end thereof.

Referring now to FIGURES 14, 1S and 16, there will be seen still another clip mounted rail structure of a type which finds wide application in refrigerated equipment. This structure includes as a base the clip 37 and rail 36 illustrated in FIGURE 7 and previously described, together with additional elements to provide a ball bearing roller type of slide. These additional elements include the V-plate 74, the ball bearings 76, a *C-shaped channel member adapted to slide within the rail structure 36 on the ball bearings 76, and hardware for assembling the -V-plate 74 andball bearings 76 to the fixed rail 36. As is most clearly seen in the showing of FIGURE 16, a bolt 71 is projected throughthe inside race of the ball'bearing 76, through a flat washer 75 and the V-plate 74, thence through a pair of split lockwashers and a hole drilled through the base wall 63 of the rail'36, the entire assembly being secured in place by means of a nut 72 threaded upon the end of the bolt 71.

The associated C-shaped channel member has a vertically extending base wall 77, top and bottom arms 78 and flanges 79 turned inward toward one another from the ends of the arms 78. The spacing between the channel arms 78 is slightly greater than theoutside diameter of the ball bearings 76, and the flanges 79 are turned inwardly toward one another to a sufficient extent that they are disposed behind the upper and lower edges of the V-plate 7'4 and thus are prevented from outward lateral shifting. The 'C-shaped channel member is thereby made captive to the rail structure 36. The wall 80 of a tray shown in phantom in FIGURE 16 may be secured to the channel member base wall 77 in any convenient fashion, as for example by welding, soldering, or bolting, and when so secured will move with the channel members as they roll in and out of the refrigerator on the ball bearings 76. If desired, although not shown, a physical stop may beprovided so that the channel members and secured tray may be withdrawn only a predetermined distance out of the refrigerator and are not free to be completely removed therefrom.

In those instances Where it is desired to place trays in a refrigerator which was designed to accommodate trays of greater width, the invention contemplates the provision of snap-in pilas-ter adapters which may be easily attached to and removed from the pilasters already built intothe refrigerator so that trays of narrower width may be accommodated therein. Such a typical pilaster adapter is illustrated in the showings of FIGURES 17, 18 and 19, being designated therein generally as 35'; Referring first to FIGURE 17, it is seen that the pilaster adapter 35 is of generally modified U-shape having a base wall 42, rearwardly extending side walls 82 and 84 joined by an offset shouldered portion 83, the side walls 84 being parallel to the side wall 82 but being spaced somewhat further apart at a separation just suilicient to accommodate therebetween a pilaster clip 37 of the same type as has already been described in connection with the showings of FIG- URES 6 and 7.

The pilaster adapter base wall 42' is rectangularly apertured as at 41 with the apertures 41' being of the same size, shape and vertical spacing as the rectangular apertures 41 in the pilaster 35. The pilaster adapter walls 84 are turned inwardly back upon themselves as at 85 illustrated in the showing of FIGURE 19. As also best seen in FIGURE 19, the turned back portions 85 of the adapter walls 84am recessed away at those-points between the walls 84 where a clip 37 is disposed, the clip 37 being physically secured to the adapters 35 by rivets 87 which hold the clip reinforcing sides 62 to the rear marginal edge of the adapter walls 84.

As shown in FIGURE '20 by the presence of-two sets of rivets 87, one set at the top and one set at the bottom,

35. As seen in FIGURES 18 and 19, the upperone of and second means associated with said clip vertical leg for the'illustrated pilaster adapter 35 employs at least two 7 clips 37 as aineans ofsecu'ring the adapter to the pilaster the clips 37 riveted to the adapter 35' is engaged with the pilaster 35 in exactly the same manner as in the showing OfFIGURE previously described and is identical :thereto. In this applicatiom'it will, ofcourse, be realized, that the forward turned cars 52 and the flanges 53 and '61 on the clip 37 perform no function and may be either ignored or cut awayas desired. The lower clip 37 'sev cured tothe adapter 35 requires a slight modification to allow its use in this applicationf The modification consists merely in removing the vertical tab 54 as indicated ;at 81 in FIGURES 18 and 19. The removal of this tab 54 is required since it cannot be projected through an aperture 41' when the adapter is snapped into place in the manner illustrated in FIGURE v20. From FIGURE it should be clear that were thetab '54 allowed to remain on the lower clip 37 it would come into face to face contact with the outer surface of the base wall 42 of the pilaster .as the adapter lower end were swung inward, and would hence prevent the lower latching tab 57 from latching into its associated aperture 41.;

It.wi1l,.of course, beeappreciat ed that pilaster adapters 35' may be formed with side Walls'84 of any desired front ,to back depth, within reason, so that quite a number of diiferent widths of trays maybe accommodated. Moreover, it is not necessary that an adapter 35 runtthe entire length of a pilaster 35, but may beimade in short sections as well, so that different width trays may even be accommodated as well, so that different widthtrays may even be accommodated within a single compartment. Additionally, although-the pilaster adapater 35' is illustrated as having only a top and a bottom clip 37, additional intermediate clips may alsosbe employed with the provision that such intermediate, clips must have their vertical tabs 54 removed in the'manner shown at 81 for the lower clip illustrated in FIGURES 18 and 19.' It will be apparent, of course, that when the pilaster adapter 35' is mounted in position as shown in FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 it effectively-provides a support for detachable securement thereto of the rail supporting clips 37, in the same manner and for the same purposes as when the clips were secured directly to the pilaster 35.

Having now described our invention in connection with particularly illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that variations andmodifications will occur .base wall and a pair of flanges extending substantially I horizontally from the top and-bottom of said base wall, ,and a rail end clip interfitted with said rail at the end thereof including means for quick detaehablysecuring the same to a pilaster, said clip having a substantially L- shaped main body portion comprising a vertical leg and a horizontal'leg, first means associated with said clip horizontal leg for engaging said rail lower flange comprising a flange turned back from and disposed inspaced overlying relation to theedge of said horizontal clip leg remote from said vertical leg, the marginal'edge of said rail lower flange remote from the rail base wall being turned back flatwise upon itself for the fullrail length with that portion adjacent the rail end having the'turn- -back removed and being slidable into the space between .said horizontal elip leg and overlying turned-back flange,

clip is projectable axially engaging said rail upper flange, said rail base wall being 'flatwise engaged with said clip vertical leg when said rail flanges are engaged by said firstand second means associated respectively with said horizontal and vertical clip legs, and stop means associated with said rail which limit the degree of. engagement of said rail flangesewith said clip carried rail end engagement means, whereby, said a limited extent. I

2. A'joint formed by a mounting clip attached to the end of a'support rail and adapted for securing the rail to a verticallyextending pilaster, comprising in combination, a channel shaped supporting rail having a vertical base wall and a pair of flanges extending substantially horizontally from the top and bottom of said base wall,

and'a rail end clip interflttedwith said rail at the end thereof including means for quick detachably securing the same to a pilaster, said clip having a substantially L-shaped main body portion comprising a vertical leg anda horizontal leg, first meansassociated with said clip horizontal leg for, engaging said ,rail lower flange, and second means associated with said clip vertical leg for engaging said rail upper flange comprising anv ear turned forward from the top of said clip vertical leg into overlying relation to said clip horizontal leg, the forward edge of said ear being turned thereunder into spaced un- I derlying relation to the main part of saidear, the marginal edge of said rail upper flange remote from the rail base wall being turned'back flatwise upon'itself for the full rail length with that portion adjacent the rail end having the turnback removed and being slidable, into the'space between saidear and underlying turned under flange,

said rail base wall being flatwise engaged with said clip vertical leg when said rail flanges are engaged by said first and second means associated respectively with said horizontal and vertical-clip legs, and stop means associated with saidrail which limit the degree of engagement of said rail flangesewith said clip, carried rail end engagement means, whereby, said clip is projectable axially endwise onto said rail end to a limited extent. 7 V

3. The combination according to 'claim 1 wherein the portion of the rail end lower flange which is slidable into a said clip first means which has the turn back removed therefrom is'oflset downward into the plane of the turned a under portion of the edge, whereby the turned-back flange of said clip first means overlying said clip horizontal leg is disposable in the plane of said rail lower flange. 7,

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the portion of the-rail end lower flange which is slidable into said clip first means which has the turn back removed therefromis offset downward into the plane of the turned J under'portion of the edge, whereby the turned-back flange of said clip first means overlying said clip horizontal leg is disposable in the plane of said rail lower flange. V

5. A clip member engageable with a rail for holding the same quick detachably mountable'upon a supporting pilaster of the type having a plurality of vertically spaced holes in the main wall thereof comprising, a substantially L-shaped main body portion having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, upper and lower latching elements on said vertical leg for engaging the pilaster respectively through a pair of vertically spaced holes therein, and rail engaging elements respectively associated with said vertical and horizontal legs for holding the rail to be supported, said vertical leg being adapted for disposition against the pilaster and said horizontal leg being thereby, disposed to 7 project laterally out from the pilaster, said upper latching element including a vertically extending tab rearwardly 'ofiset relativeto and extending from the 'vertical leg of said main body portion and said lower latching element including a spring-biased latching tab underlying said vertical 'tab and extending rearwardly of both legs of said main body portion, said spring-biased latching tab 1 75,

being turned out of the body of said vertical leg and having endwise onto said rail end to tab sides extending into said horizontal leg by slitting the latter outward for a distance from its line of juncture with the vertical leg, a support tab extending substantially horizontally rearwardly from the vertical leg of said main body portion for projection through one of the pilaster holes and disposition in overlying engagement with the pilaster wall portion defining the bottom of the hole, a portion of said rail engaging elements being associated with each leg of said L-shaped main oody portion.

6. The clip member according to claim wherein the rail engaging element associated with said horizontal leg comprises a flange turned back from and disposed in spaced overlying relation to the edge of said horizontal leg remote from said vertical leg, wherein the rail engaging element associated with said vertical leg comprises an ear turned forward from the top of said vertical leg into overlying relation to said horizontal leg with the forward edge of said ear turned thereunder into spaced underlying relation to the main part of said ear, and wherein the clip member includes a pair of L-shaped reinforcing side walls extending rearward from opposite sides of the vertical leg of said main body portion and downward from opposite sides of the horizontal leg of said main body portion, the rearward and downward extending parts of each reinforcing side wall being joined to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,905 2/08 Rhorer l89-35 1,000,465 8/11 Wait 189-35 1,504,523 8/24 Sherer.

2,154,046 4/ 39 Kost.

2,839,350 6/58 Hill.

2,932,368 4/ Schell 189-36 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 8 8,686 5/47 Great Britain.

IACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Exam iner.

CORNELIUS D. ANGEL, RICHARD W. COOKE,

. Examiners. 

1. A JOINT FORMED BY A MOUNTING CLIP ATTACHED TO THE END OF A SUPPORT RAIL AND ADAPTED FOR SECURING THE RAIL TO A VERTICALLY EXTENDING PILASTER, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, CHANNEL SHAPED SUPPORTING RAIL HAVING A VERTICAL BASE WALL AND A PAIR OF FLANGES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF SAID BASE WALL, AND A RAIL END CLIP INTERFITTED WITH SAID RAIL AT THE END THEREOF INCLUDING MEANS FOR QUICK DETACHABLY SECURING THE SAME TO A PILASTER, SAID CLIP HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY LSHAPE MAIN BODY PORTION COMPRISING A VERTICAL LEG AND A HORIZONTAL LEG, FIRST MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CLIP HORIZONTAL LEG FOR ENGAGING SAID RAIL LOWER FLANGE COMPRISING A FLANGE TURNED BACK FROM AND DISPOSED IN SPACED OVERLYING RELATION TO THE EDGE OF SAID HORIZONTAL CLIP LEG REMOTE FROM SAID VERTICAL LEG, THE MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID RAIL LOWER FLANGE REMOTE FROM THE RAIL BASE WALL BEING TURNED BACK FLATWISE UPON ITSELF FOR THE FULL RAIL LENGTH WITH THAT PORTION ADJACENT THE RAIL END HAVING THE TURNBACK REMOVED AND BEING SLIDABLE INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID HORIZONTAL CLIP LEG AND OVERLYING TURNED-BACK FLANGE, AND SECOND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CLIP VERTICAL LEG FOR ENGAING SAID RAIL UPPER FLANGE, SAID RAIL BASE WALL BEING FLATWISE ENGAGED WITH SAID CLIP VERTICAL LEG WHEN SAID RAIL FLANGES ARE ENGAGED BY SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS ASSOCIATED RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CLIP LEGS, AND STOP MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RAIL WHICH LIMIT THE DEGREE OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID RAIL FLANGES WITH SAID CLIP CARRIED RAIL END ENGAGEMENT MEANS, WHEREBY, SAID CLIP IS PROJECTABLE AXIALLY ENDWISE ONTO SAID RAIL END TO A LIMITED EXTENT. 